AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC GROUP OF STATES
ACP/21/025/84
A C P - E E C
CONVENTION OF LOME
PRESS RELEASE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES THE COUNCIL
ACP-CEE/2256/84
Lome, 8 December 1984
The third ACP-EEC Convention of Lome between the African,
Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Economic Community
was signed on 8 December 1984 at a ceremony presided over by
H.E. General Gnassingbe EYADEMA, President of the Republic of
Togo at the "Maison du Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais" in Lome.
This Convention, which must undergo the procedures for rati :'ication
by the Signatory States and conclusion by the Community, follows
the second ACP-EEC Convention which was also signed in Lome on
31 October 1979 and which expires on 28 February 1985.
On the occasion of the signing of this new Convention,
addresses - the texts of which are contained in Annexes I to IV -
were given by Mr Peter BARRY, President of the Council of the
European Communities, Mr Rabbie NAMALIU, President of the Council
of ACP Ministers, Mr Gaston THORN, President of the European
Commission and General Gnassiabe EYADEMA, President of the Republic of Togo.
The third ACP-EEC Conv~ntion was signed by the following
Plenipotentiaries:
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- on behalf of the Member Stc1tes of the European Economic Community:
for the Kingdom of Belgium~ Mr Frangois~Xavier DE DONNEA, State Secretary, Development Co-nper.·l t ion
for the Kingdom of Denmark: Mr Knud-Erik TYGESEN, State Secretary,
for the Federal Republic of Germany
for the Hellenic Republic
for the French Republic
for Ireland
for the Italian Republic
for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
ACP-CEE 2256 e/84 (Presse 211)
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Mr Peter SCHOLZ, Ambassador Extraordlnary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Togolese Republic
Mr Volkmar KOHLER, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Co-operation
Mr Theodoros PANGALOS, State Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Mr Claude CHEYSSON, Plenipotentiary
Mr Christian NUCCI, Minister responsible to the Minister for External Relations, Responsible for Co-operation and Development
Mr Jim o ' KEEFFE 1
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs
Mr Mario FlORET, Under Secretary of State, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Mr Robert GOEBBELS, State Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
ACP/21/025/84 ... I . ..
for the Kingdom of the Netherlands
for the United Kingdom
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Mr W.F. VAN EEKELEN, State Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Mr Timothy RAISON, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Minister for Overseas Development
- on behalf of the Council and the Commission of the European Communities
- Mr Peter BARRY,
- Mr Gaston THORN,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ireland President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities
President of the Commission of the European Communities
- on behalf of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States:
for Antigua and Barbuda
for the Bahamas
for Barbados
for Belize
for the People's Republic of Benin
ACP- CEE2256 e/84 (Presse 211)
Mr Ronald SANDERS, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the European Communities
Mr Richard C. DEMERITTE, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
Mr H.B. St JOHN, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism -
Mr Rudolph I. CASTILLO, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Mission of Belize to the European Communities
Mr Soule DANKORO, Minister for Trade, Craft Trades and Tourism
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for the Republic of Botswana
for Burkina Faso
for the Republic of Burundi
for the United Republic of Cameroon
for the Republic of Cape VerdE
for the Central African Republic
for the Islamic Federal RepubJic of the Comoros
for the People's Republic~ of the Congo
for the Republic of the Ivory Coast
for the Republic of Djibouti
for Dominica
for Ethiopia
ACP-CEE 2256 e/84 (Presse 211,
Mrs G.K.T. CHIEPE~ Minister for Foreign Affair:;
Mr Youssouf OUEDRAOGO~ Minister for Planning and Social Development
Mr Stanislas MANDI~ Minister of the Presidency responsible for relations with the National Assembly
Mr Youssoufa DAOUDA~ Minister of State for Plann ng and Regional Development
Mr Silvino DA LUZ~ Minister for Foreign Affair:
Mr Guy DARLAN~ High Commissioner for P: responsible for Economic ct..
Financial Co-operation
Mr Yahaia DJAI:IADAR, Roving Ambassador and Plenipotentiary
Mr Pierre MOUSSA, Minister for Planning
Mr Abdoulaye KONE, Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim ABDI, Ambassador Extraordinary anJ Plenipotentiary, Head of th, Mission of the Republic of Djibouti to the European Economic Community
Mr Romeo Arden Coleridge SHILLINGFORD High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
Mr ljigu MERSIE, lVl:LnLstr~r r'r•t-;ponsible for Genl?ra1 l _.mni.ng
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for Fiji
for the Gabonese Republic
for the Republic of Gambia
for the Republic of Ghana
for' Grenada
for the Republic of Guinea
for the Republic of Guj_nea-Bissau
for the Republic of Equatorial Guinea
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for the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
for Jamaica
ACP-CEE 2256 e/84 (Pre$se 211)
Mr J.D.V. CAVALEVU, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Mission of Fiji to the European Communities
Mr Pascal NZE, Minister for Planning and Regional Development
Mr Sheriff Saikouba SISAY, Minister of Finance and Trade
Mr Kwesi BOTCHWEY, Secretary for Finance and Economic Planning
Mr Oswald Moxley GIBHS, High Commissioner of Grenad:! to the United Kingdom
Mr Fode Momo CAMARA, Minister for International Co-operation
Mr Barto1omeu Simoes PEREJH, , Minister for Economic Co-or\ ination, Planning and International Co-operation
Mr Fortunato NZAMBI MACHINDJ Minister for Industry, Trad1 and Industrial Promotion
Mr Harold SAHADEO, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of thP Mission of Guyana to the European Communities
Mr E. Frank FRANCIS, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affair~:
ACP/21/025/84 ... I . ..
for the Republic of Kenya
for the Republic of Kiribati
for the Kingdom of Lesotho
for the Republic of Liberia
for the Democratic Republic of Madagascar
for the Republic of Malawi
for the Republic of Mali
for the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
for Mauritius
for the People's Republic of Mozambique
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ACP-CEE 2256 e/84 (Presse 211)
Mr E. MWANGALE, Minister for Foreign Affair;
Mr Timothy RAISON, Minister of State for Forei ~n and Commonwealth Affairs, Minister for Overseas Devel 1pment. of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Mr K.T. MAPHATHE, Minister of Transport and Communications
Mr Emmanuel 0. GARDINER, Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs
Mr Georges Yvan SOLOFOSON, Minister for Trade
Mr E.C. Katola PHIRI, Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism
Mr Alioune Bondin BEYE, Minister for Foreign Affair and International Co-operat·on
Mr Ahmed OULD MINNIH, Member of the Military Comrr ttee for National Safety, Minist 'r for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation
Mr Nunkeswarsingh DEERPALSJNGH, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural ResoGrces
Rei Baltazar dos SANTOS AL\i'~S, Minister for Financial Affairs
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~or the Republic of Niger Mr Almoustapha SOUMAILA, Minister responsible to the Prime Minister for Planning
for the Federal Republic of N .. geria: Mr Job IROHA,
for the Republic of Uganda
for Papua New Guinea
for the Republic of Rwanda
for St Christopher and Nevis
for Saint Lucia
for Saint Vincent and Grenadines
for Western Samoa
for the Democratic Republic o~ Sao Tome and Pr{ncipe
for the Republic of Senegal
ACP-CEE 2256 e/84 (Presse 211)
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Mr Henry Milton MAKMOT, Deputy Minister of Finan~e
Mr Rabbie L. NAMALIU, Minister for Foreign AffJirs and Trade
Mr Ambroise MULINDANGABC. Minister for Planning
Mr Claudius C. THOMAS, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Mission of Saint Lucia to the European Communities
Mr Claudius C. THOMAS, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Mission of Saint Lucia to the European Communities
M:.:- Claudius C. THONAS, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Mission of Saint Lucia to the European Communities
Mr Tuilaepa SAILELE, Minister for Financial A !'fairs
Mr Carlos Alberto TINY, Minister for Co-operation
Mr Abdourahmane TOURE, Minister for Trade
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i'or· the Republic of the Seych,;Ues:
for the Republic of Sierra Leune
for the Solomon Islands
for the Democratic Republic o · Somalia
for the Democratic Republic of Sudan
fcJr the Republic of Suriname
for the Kingdom of Swaziland
for the United Republic of Tanzania
for the Republic of Chad
ACP-CEE 2256 e/84 (Presse 211)
Mr Calyxte D'OFFAY, J\rnbas~~ador Extl'aoi·dinary :Jnd Plenipotentiary, Director for External Re'ations
Mr Salia JUSU-SHERIFF, Minister of Development :nd Economic Planning
Mr Timothy RAISON, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Minister for Overs< ·as Devc J opmnn t, of thE) 1Jni ted Kingdom of Great Britain and Northt·rn lreland
Mr Mohamed Omar GIAMA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Representative of the Somali Democratic Republic to the European Communit:es
Mr MOHAMED EL HASSAN AHM :D EL HAG, Minister of the Presiden~·y for Secretariat General Affairs
Mr Im1·o E. PONG POEN, Minister of Transport, Trade and Industry
Mr Mhambi M. MNISI Minister for Foreign Affairs
Mr Kighoma A . .VlALiiVIA, Minister for Planning ari Economic Affairs
Mr Amos REOULENGAR, State Secretary, Economi~ Affairs and Trade
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for the Republic of Togo
for tht' Kjnp:dom of' 'l,onva
for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobagc
for Tuvalu
for the Republic of Vanuatu
for the Republic of Zaire
for the Republic of Zambia
for the Republic of Zimbabwe
ACP-CEE 2256 e/84 (Presse 211)
Mr Yac>vi ADODO, Minister for Plarminl::': <lll:
Tndust ry
l!HH CI'OWll r)rince 'J'UPCllJ'f'(J'A, MinisteJ' fur Forejt7l AI'l' dr~; and Defence
Mr Desmond CARTEY, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Af 'airs
Mr J.D.V. CAVALEVU, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Mission of Fiji to the European Communities
Mr SeLa MOLISA, Minister for Foreign Afl ;irs and Trc=tde
Nr LENGEMA DULIA YUBASA 1AKANGA State Secretary, International Co-operatj )D
Mr Leonard.s. SUBULWA, Minister of Commerce and Industry
Mr R. C . HOVE, Minister of Trade and Co @erce
ACP/21/025/84
CEECX AGADIS? JEL:~TE·::;y
Address by Mr Peter Earry, ~.D. Minister for
Foreign Affairs of Ireland and ?resident of tr.e
Council of Ministers cf the European CoiT~unity
on the occasion of the Signature of the Third Lome Convention
Lome, Toga 8 December 198··
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) ACP/21/025/84
~ r '·.; s i -J ~· :-'~ .__ of the He pub lie '
~il:' - ),. \::sid ~ ' '' of c:J.e Corr.mission,
YL:· ?res id.er~. of tne Consultative Assembly
European Parliament, Distinguished Ministers and Colleagues,
Yo~r Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
and of the
It is a great honour and privilege for me as ?resident
of the Council of ~inisters o: the European Community and as
~oreign Minister of Ireland to inaugurate here in Lome a new period of co-operation between the countries of Africa, the
Caribbean and the Pacific, and the European Community and its
~~Iember States.
It seems to have become )art of our tradition that at the end of long and difficult negotiations we return to Lome
for the signature of the Conv:ntion. The warmth of the welcome
which we have received from y)u, Sir, ar.d from the Governmen: anC. people of r:'ogo has touched us all deeply and has given to
this solemn occasion a unique atmosphere of friendship and
hope which can only serve to 3trengthen further the special
bor.ds between Europe and the ~CP States. It is that
relationship, without parallel in the world, and symbolised
by the Lome Convention, which we are celebrating here today.
This is the third occasiJn that we have come together in this enchanting town to re~ew in your presence, Sir, a
pact of hope and solidarity b=tween E~rope and her partners in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. It is also the
third time that it falls to my own country, Ireland, to have
the honour of leading the delegation from ':he European Corr.mu:1ity.
AC?-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX :;:) J\CD/21/()2')/84
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My Prime Minister, Dr Garret FI':'ZGERALD who signed the Fi.!'st
Convention almost 10 years ago as Ireland's then Foreign
Minister, and who is currently the President of the Surope~r.
Council, has asked me to confirm to you on behalf of the Heads of :...tate and Government of the Suropean Ccnmunity wl.-'.o met in Dublin earlier this week, the political importance ~t~2~ they attacn to the development of ACP-EEC ~elations.
The negotiation, in the space of a little more than a
ye~r, of a complex and technical Convention, covering a b~aaj
~ange of issues and sectors, is a remarkable achievement. It
would certainly not have been possible without the determination,
pragmatism and inspiration of our negotiators, who, from the
ou:set, made it clear that failure could not be countenanced
and who recognised that it would not be accepted by our peoples.
!t would be impossible for me to thank them all individually.
However, ! must pay tribute to my co-Presijent for the last
few months, ~inister NAMALIU of ?apua New Guinea, who led
the AC? States through the final stages of the negotiation
in a most distinguished and authoritative manner. His illuscrious
predecessor, the Ceputy Prime Minister of Jar.1ai :a, :VTr S2:SAHE::t,
who unfortunately cannot be with us today, made a major
contribution to the success cf our work during the first half
of the year as did his predecessor as ?resident of the ACP,
:1inister i"IOGWE of Botswana at the start of the negotiations.
On the European Co~~unity side, ~llow me to pay tribute
to a man who regrettably is not here today but without whom
we would possibly not be here ourselves - ~dgar ?:SANI .
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX I) /\CP/21/02r,;s4
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His charm and humour, his intellectual integrity i:r.bt~ed
with humanity, his command of detail in d.ealing with ':he enos t complex and sensitive issues: these have been qualities wh.:..c:r:
I have greatly admired. His country ar:d Government ha·1e recognised them too and I am certain that I speak for ycu when I express the hope that his mission to New Caledonia will prove as successful as his work with us.
Great upheavals in history place major options before
leaders and statesmen. Upon their choice the course of events depends. Thus, in the aftermath of the Second World War, six
european States choose to lay aside their rivalries and quarrels. Siffiilarly, following decolonisation, 18 sovereign, independent States of Africa choose the path of co-operation and inter
dependence to develop and organise their relations with the
emerging ~uropean Community. A quarter of a century later,
66 ACP States have participated in the negotiations for the
renewal of the Convention with a Corr~uni:y of 10 Member States,
soon to be enlarged to 12. The European Corr~unity, which
welcomed the participation of Angola and Mozambique in the
negotiations, is particularly pleased to count Mozambique as
on of the signatories. If Angola decides to accede to the
Convention, she too will be assured of an equally warm welcone.
r also express the wish that ~n the r:ear future we will be
able to add one more signatory to our Convention, that of an independent Namibia.
ACP-EEC co-operation now brings together mere than half the member~ of the United Nations. What other .:..nstr~~ent ha~
so helped to change the notion of co-operation between indus:rialisei
ACP-CEE/225G/B4 (rresse 211) (ANNEX I) M.::~'/21 /02'..>/Lj4
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and developing countries? As we said in the Suva Declara:icn,
the different Conventions which have over several decades
associated independent African, Caribbean and ?aci~ic co~ntr!es
with the European Community, have allowed us to build ~,.;.p
a uniqu system of co-operation of the highest political
significance and •t~hich we regard as o'J.r common heritage. '...ie
have founded this corr~on her:.tage on a number of f~,.;.ndamental
principles which guarantee i~s value and its strength. ~hey
are interdependence, mutual :_nterest, respect for each or.:her' s
sovereignty, equality betweer: partners and the right of
each State to determine its ,Jwn political, social, cultural and
economic policy options.
3eyond these basic principles, the Convention of Lome
·t~hich inclt.;.des more than haL' of the poorest countries cr. tte
planet, is above all an act ,Jf solidarity aimed at improving
the economic circumstances o:' millions of men, women and children.
2ere on African soil, w~· car:not bt.;. t be acutely aware of
the tragedy which is afflict.ng parts of this continent. rte
crisis •t~l::.ich has befallen many African peoples, part:i.cularl:t
ir: the Sahel, in the Horn of Africa and most recently in Ettiopia,
has awoken the sympathy and '~ompassion of the GoverThuents ar:d
peoples of all countries. The impact on Europe of te:.evisicn
pict(.;.res showing the terrible pligl::t of starving people, :nary
of them children, has provok:~d a response from our societies
without parallel in recent ':::.mes. Private individuals and
organisations, governrnents aJ~d international bodies and groups
of countries working togethe:' have begun to mobilize and
co-ordinate their efforts to see what effective action can te
taken to alleviate tl::e situa:ion.
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We, the Community and its Member States, are examini~g at this very moment what additional help we can give over th'= ·::oming weeks and months to the famine-stricken regions of th :.s
continent. We are also endeavouring to co-ordinate our acti~ns
with those of other countries and organizatio~s. The bonds ~r
common humanity when confronted by images such as those I ha'le just described, transcend aL. the differences 'o'lhich at times divide us. We will strive, to the utmost of our ability to
support the efforts of Afric<~n countries to meet what the Resolution on the critical economic situation in Africa, adopted this week by the UN General assembly, has described as the ''dual challenge of survival and de'relopment".
:'he nost i.rrunediate prob.em in Africa is that of hunger, The first priority must ther!fore be action to enable Africa to feed her people. We cann,Jt control the climatic condi ticns which determine good or bad :1arvests. We can, however, ens~.,;.re
that through our co-operatio1, the efforts of the African countries themselves - and t:1ey are considerable - receive the
necessary financial and tec~1ical support to enable them to achieve greater food self-reLiance than before, It is for that reason that we have pla~ed agricultural development and
fcod security at the forefro1t of our objectives for the next
five years of ACP-EEC co-ope~ation. We will attempt to tackle
the problems in this sector in a more comprehensive and integrated
way than in the past. We will seek to deve:op food strategies
with the full co-operation c: your Governments so that the amount of imported food will gradually be replaced by local, national production. For the first time in the history of our co-operation
we will begin\to examine how best to fight and win the batt:e
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against drought and desertification. Financial resources
will be made available to tackle the alarming environmental deterioration. In addition, we will pay more attention to the social and ecological impact of our actions in the agricultural and industrial sectors. We have also committed ou~se:ves to exploiting alternative food sources and I am thinking particularly of the fisheries sector.
~hese then must be our objectives in the medium and lohg term. They are noble and worthwhile aims. Their realizaticn will depend on the spirit of co-operation in which they are
pursued. That spirit, as far as we are concerned, has a na~e -
it is ~~e Spirit of Lam§.
In the objectives of the Convention we agreed to put man
at the centre of our action. Whatever his situation, man has
the right to respect for his dignity and person. He has thH right to :ife and to hope. Regardless of race, religion or c~lture, he must be the actor and the beneficiary of the development proces~. ~hat is the ultimate goal of our co-operat;
and because we jointly believe it to be so, we have duly re~lecte
it in the text of our Convention. We have also agreed to give a more hunan dimension to what has essentially been an economic and cor.~ercial relationship by adding a chapter on cultural and
social co-operation. We hope that this new dimension to ou~
co-operation will lead to a greater mutual understanding be~ween our peoples and an increased awareness of their customs and traditions. We firmly believe that it is only by developing
understanding and knowledge that we can begin to eliminate intolerance and prejudice wherever it is found.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX I) ACP/21/025/84
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The sytematic discrimination of apartheid in South A~~~~~ and the delay in ending South Africa's illegal occupation o~ Namibia are continuing causes of concern ~o the ~en Member s~~tes
of the Community. Indi7idual2y and co:lectively, the Ten r:.a·/ ~ expressed their abhorrence of and opposition to South Africa· 3
apartheid policy. We reject apartheid in all its forms and ~e
shall continue our pressure on South Africa to abandon this
inequitous system.
The European Corr .. T.unity and its Member States have suppor:;ed and wil: continue to support the Namibian people, particularly through the Cnited Nations In3titute for Namibia. I take thi3 opportunity to re-state the w:.llingness of the Community and the Member States to assist i:: the development of a free and independent ~amibia.
:'he Second Lome ConventiJn has but a few months to run.
During its life-span, the int~rnational economic situation cculd
not have been rr.ore depressi:!.'"'.g. The recession of 1980-1983
was the :ongest in fifty year3 and its effects on the econom~es
of developed and developing cJuntries continue to be felt. :n
many industrialised countries increased unemployment and fal:ing investment have resulted from the absence of economic growth. A decline in trade, and press~re on international financial systems,
ha'le exacerbated the situation, forcing r..any governments to :=:.dor.:t short-term measures as they fought to protect their economie~ from the worst of the economi: turbulence. In an interdepen~ent
world, the predominance of the industrialized countries in the
world economy and the consequences of their economic difficu:ties
have had an even more seriou~ effect on the economies of
developing countries. These countries have also had to contend
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with the ever-increasing burcen of debt caused by spiralling
intersst rates. For developing countries, many of which tra1e
almost solely in commodities, the effects of the recession have reached critical proportions.
What of the future? Wi:.l the international economic environment become less harsh during the life of the ':'hird
Lome Convention? It is perhc:.ps too early to state confidently that better times are on the way. It is certainly true that all the indicators show that recovery is indeed now underway in the North. Renewed economic growth has been confirmed althc~gh it is still modest in compar~son to earlier periods. More encouragi:
has been the improvement in 110rld trade last year with a sir..ilar trend evident for this year. This should have a significant impact
on the developing countries. For the ACP States, the strenghtened
trade provisions of the new ~onvention should enable many of you
to take full advantage of thLs better trading climate.
This is just one exampl? of how the European Community
and its Member States can contribute through the instruments of our Convention to the econom~c development of our ACP partners.
I must stress, however, that it is only a contribution. The Lome Convention does not pro?ide answers to all questions ard it cannot invent solutions to erery problem. I can state howe ·er, that as far as we are concer1ed, it is a genuine attempt :o tackle some of the most seri )US problems cor.fronting developing
countries today. A signific~nt amount of financial resources,
which covers all the ACP Sta:es which participated in the
negotiation, whatever the da~e of their accession to the
Convention, and which also a1tic1pates the enlargement of t, e
Community to include Spain ald Portugal, has been provided to
implement the Convention. No doubt some would say that desp te
the budgetary constraints colfronting the Member States, th
Community could have done ev :!n more . .il.t a time, however, wht'n
there is so much hesitation
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in the North-South Dialogue - the reconstitution of IFAD and
IDA spring to mind - should we rot take some encourage~e~t from the successful outcome of c.ur deliberations?
~r President of the Republic,
Distinguished Delegates,
The Convention which we sign here today not only will have
~ore signatories but it is also broader and deeper than its predecessor. It provides us wi~h new areas for co-operation and poses new challenges. We have concluded the first stage
of our work in a spirit of hope and solidarity. We must now
go forward together with convic·:ion and determination to ensure
that in the years ahead we can :1eet the objectives we have set
oursel7es.
!hank you.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX I) ACP/21/025/84
8th December 1984. EWC/jb
ANNEX II
STATEMENT SY THE ACP PRESIDENT AT THE SIGNING OF
THE THIRD CONVENTION OF LOME -LOME, TOGO, 8.12.84
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (P~esse 211) ACP/21/025/84
Your Exce_llency, Generp.l ,Gnassingl:;l.e .E,Y,ApEMA • .~,·~ l ' ' ·~ ' "· i<>- '"'"·;·, "'""' ' '"'. :- < •
President and Founder .o/{ _:the Union of Togolese ,People
and President of the T~~olese ReHJlbl_Ap,
the European Economic Cgmmunity,l
President of the Commis~i?.n of the ·¥.1fpop;ean COIJJ!J!Uni ty,
Presidents of the ACP/~f-9 .Consu1.t,a.t,i.ve {\ssembly,
Honourable Ministers,
Distinguished Delegates,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentle.men,
ACP-GEE/2?56/~4 (Presse ~11) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84 '"' ......
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Mr. President,
On 28th February 1975, at your kind invitation, re?re-
sentatives of some fifty-fi~e countries assembled here in ~
Lome, Togo, to breathe life into a body of cooperative
arrangements which they had been negotiating over the
previous two years. Today, nearly ten years later, it
is for me, in my capacity as President of the Council
of Ministers of the ACP Group of States, a signal honour
and privilege - and indeed a joy - to participate among
representatives of seventy-five countries, in this the
second renewal of that historic undertaking, namely
the signing of an ACP/EEC C0 nvention in Lome.
Your distinguished Excellency, Mr. President of the
Republic of Togo, General Eyadama, the ACP pays to you
the greatest homage and gratitude for your contindng
efforts :ti:r the advar:~cement of ACP /EEC Cooperation.
To you, to your Government and to your People, we extend
our deepest appreciation for the warm and fraternal welcome
Which we have received, for the generous hospitality
Which has been accorded us, and for the abundant facilities
put at our disposal for the effective pursuit of our work.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84
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These visits to this historic city of Lome have become
for us a veritable pilgrimmage, symbolising the renewal
of our faith in international economic cooperation.
Between developed and developing countries, Lome ~as
indeed become a symbol o~ international cooperation
virtually the sole beacon in an otherwise dark and unlit
sea, strewn with unfulfilled hopes.
In a situation where, for example, regretfully the Global
Rounds of Negotiations never got rolling, the GATT
Ministerial Meeting could only reaffirm opposition to
risir.g protectionism while many countries simultaneously
proceeded apace with rising protectionism, and U~CTAD VI
could only manage to set work programmes for the future,
it would be false modesty on our part not to admit that
i n such an international climate, despite its obvious
deficiencies, the results of efforts of the ACP Group
and of t~e EEC at development cooperation, do justify
some modest measure of satisfactio~.
That approach has seen a healthy growth in the ACP Group,
from 46 countries in 1975 b 65 countries today. Mr.
President, this process of growth in the ACP family
took a particularly happy turn since our arrival in Togo,
for this very week the ACP Council of Ministers unanimously
agreed to Mozambique's application to become a member
of the ACP Group and Mozambique will be signing the new
Convention here with us today.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/02)/8
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,,
3
Mr. President, we are all indeed very happy to welcome
Mozambique into its rightful place in the ACP family.
Since we signed the second 1 Lome Convention in 1979, the
E£C has itself experienced some enlargement with the
accession of Greece to the European Economic Community.
They have already mace their mark in these negotiations
and we are happy to see them here today for the first
time at the signing ceremony. We look forward to the
entry of Spain and Portugal, bringing in its wake its
own beneficial effects to our cooperation •
Mr. Pr-esident, as ot.:r cooper at ion enlarges through the
admission of new member states and the inclusion of new 2reas
of cooperation an i~creasing responsibility falls on us
not only for- the we~l~being of our own peoples but also
to provide an example to the entire international
commt.:nity. For make no mistake about it, we are a
microcosm of that world community. A simple look at
our negotiations for this new Convention, for example,
gives a ve.ritable reflection of our inte.rnational
character. The nego:iations were started by EEC and
ACP Presidents from Greece and Botswana respectively;
they were significa:1tly advanced by EEC and ACP
Presidents from France and Jamaica respectively;
and they were concluded by EEC and ACP Presidents
from Ireland and Papua New Guinea respectively.
And, Mr. President, if we were to include in this
analysis our Ambassadorial Chairmen the international
AC~-CEE/22516/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025, B4
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4
character of our Group and consequent worldwide
respoosibil!:y becomes more evident.
Mr President,
All evaluat:J~s of our cooperation as embodied in
Lome I and L~me II suggest that significant improve-
ments were !"'ecessary in the structure and implementation
of the future Convention, if it were to make a significant
contributior. in the face of the continuing international.
economic cr:.sis which is generally acknowledged as the
worst the wc~~d has see1 in the last half of a century.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84
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5
It is with this realisation uppermost in miryj tha: we
commenced ouc negotiations in October 1983 in an
atmosphere of continuing difficult economic circu:nsta"ces
for our partnecs in the Community as well.
The negotiations proved to be more difficult and protracted
than any of its predecessors. No other Lome Convention
took six Ministerial level meetings before being finalised.
In the end, however, the dictates of mutual self-interest
and inteLdependence which characterise the economic
relatio~s between the EEC and the ACP States prevailed
and the Third ACP/EEC Convention is ready for signing
in Lome today.
In the c~urse of arriving at a jointly agreed Convention
a numbec of key issues emerged, none more contentious
than the cor.cept of policy dialogue and the ques:ion of
human rights. To the ACP, the former characterises
a method of cooperation by which indepth dialogue and
agreements on ACP States' sector policies and programmes
would become a prerequisite for Community financial
assistance in the particular sector. The ACP rejected
what they saw as too great a measure of involvement
by the EEC in their domestic policies and programmes,
and the implied conditionality in gaining access to the
financial resources under the Convention. These were
not consistent with agreement between sovereign states.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX 11) ACP/21/025/84
... I ...
6
In the end, a modus vivendi was found by which th~
desiderata of consultation, efficiency and accountability were
accomodated without any excessive notion of conditionality
and Community intervention.
The ACP States have jealously guarded their sovereignty
while advancing the scope for improving efficacy in
financial cooperation.
The question of human rights was present in ACP/EEC
Negotiations since Lome II. Then, the matter was
resolved by both Presidents making public declarations
on t~is question at the signing ceremony of Lome II.
On that occasion, th~ ACP President said, inter alia,
and I q·.:ote "every signatory state here today is a
mem~e.r of the United Nations. Al·l of us subscribe to
the Ch :rter- of t;..,.a t body. Those of us who are members
of t~e Organisation of African Unity have reaffirmed
that intention at the level of heads of state in the
now famous resolution in Monrovia in July 1979; and
those of us w~o are members of the Commonwealth adopted
also at the level of heads of state, a resolution expressing
a similar concern in Lusaka in August this year." and
then he stressed "We too are militants for human ri,ghts
and as such our relations continue to be founded on
the principles which form the cornerstone of justice,
lterty, peace and respect for human dignityt' endof quote.
Aftrflt}fff?J'f4 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ... I ...
7
The EEC President for his part, recalled that Lome
was, and I quote "built on the solid foundations of
these truths and expresses our respect for those prin-
ciples." end of quote.
On this occasion, the ACP, consistent with their
commitment to this concept, indicated that they were
willing to discuss human rights matters if the
Community was equally willing to discuss its relations
with South Africa. I am happy to indicate that the
Community has agreed to adopt a Joint Declaration which
states, inter alia, and I quote "in this respect, the
contracting parties reaffirm their obligation and their
commitments under international law, to fight for the
elimination of all forms of discrimination cased on
ethnic group, origin, race, nationality, colour, sex
language, religion or any other situation. They proclaimed
their determination to work effectively for the eradication
of .:patheid, which constitutes a violation of human rights
and an affront to human dignity." end of q'-..IOte.
On this basis, the ACP has in turn agreed to an insertion
in the preamble of the Convention which states as
follows :
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8
"Reaffirming their adherence to the principle of
the said (UN) Charter and their faith in fundamental
human rights in the digni t:y and worth of the human
pers.on,. in the equal rights of men and women and of
nations large and small."
No longer, therefore, Mr. President, can our Convention
remain mute on the flagrant violation of human rights
which apartheid constitutes and generates and we stress,
Mr. President, that both the ACP and the EEC are committed
to work effectively to eradicate that nefarious system.
As regards the specific contents of the Convention, we
have been able to give due prominence and reason able
support to the fundamental question of food self-
sufficiency in ACP States. And in support
of this objective, we have join ed the struggle agair.st
the drought and desertification, particularly rampant
in several ACP African States, undermining all efforts to
achieve increased food production and indeed general soci~l
and economic development.
The dominant role of the agricultural sector in
the development of most ACP States, as the main source
of foreign exchange earnings and employment is specially
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84 ... I ...
9
reflected for the first time in the Convention in a
special Chapter on Cooperation in Agricultural Commodities
with the central objectives of improvement of the
conditions of production, transportation and marketing.
While falling far short of our major objectives, the
provisions in &Us chapter do constitute a framework on
which further progress could be made. Much will however
depend on the implementation strategy adopted by us and our
EEC partners. This question, Mr. President, we consider
to 'ce fundamental •
On the key concern of access for our agricultural exports
to the EEC markets, we have reached agreement to limit the
delay t1 t:re Commission in responding to our specific request.=
for improved ac~ess. This modest progress is reinforced bv
more automahcity in the provisions for derogations for
the r~les of origin, which, in our considered view, rema~~
too stringent to encourage ACP development.
The development of services such as tourism and maritime
transport has been recognised as important areas for
greater emphasis in Lome III.
ACP-CEE/225/6/SLl (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) A C P /2 1 /,0 2 5 8 4
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10
And we have strengthened Stabex by lowering the
thresholds and by adopting clearer management and
reporting procedures on the use of transfers.
The Convention takes today's needs into account
without ignoring those of the future. In this regard,
it improves on the a.rrangements for the present
exploitation of our mineral resources and strengthens
the scope for future development of such resources,
i r.cludi.ng our energy resources.
T~e Convention provides for a total financial package
of eight point fivebillion ECUs (8 500). This amount falls
far short of the minimum requested by the ACP and justified
by our needs, and the objectives of the Convention.
At '= t:i.me of reduced soft funds from international agencies
such as IDA, the ACP needs more, not less, real per capita
resources under Lome III. Such however, was not: to be
the case.
Nonetheless, these resources are now more than before
available for programmes as much as for projects, and
for rehabilitation, repair and maintenance as much as
for new investments. To supplement these resources,
the Convention provides a significant chapter on the
flow of private inve~trnent between the Community and
the ACP States. It iS our strong determination to
see full effect given to this chpater under Lome III.
\CCp~fl/ifl??if4 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ... I ...
11
As regards the institutional structure, we have
strengthened our technical agencies such as the
Centre for Industrial Development and the Agricultural I
Cencre; we have streamlined our consultative bodies
by ~eplacing the Joint Cqmmittee and the Consultative \
Assembly, with one Joint Assembly. Institutionalised
arrangements have also been made for consultations with
the Social and Economic Circles.
Most critically, we have reinforced our Council of
r'linisters as a political bpdy by extending its c ompetence
to deliberate on all issues relevant to the Convention.
Fi~ally, the very foundation of the entire Convention
has cee~ set in a spirit of interdependence and on the
casis of the cultural prerequisites of the development
of ti-".e ACP States, giving primacy to their Peoples and
sovereign choice to their societies.
. .. I ...
12
Mr. President, undoubtedly, the Third ACP/SEC Convention
of Lome improves on its predecessors in its structure,
content and mechanism for implementation. But it will
~all for the greatest imagination in implementation to ensure
that all the intended benefits are essentially achieved.
Apart from everything else, it will call for a closer
coordination and consultation between the different
ACP and ACP/EEC institutions involved in the implemen-
tation of the Convention. It will call for closer
contact with and consultation among the regional organi-
sations, with t~e ACP States taking full advantage of the
regional cooperation provisions of the Convention to
further strengt~en our regional, interregional and
Intra-ACP Cooperation.
In this latter regard, it is thanks to your initiative Preside'
Eyadema, on the occasion of the signing of Lome II,
when you called for a Federation of Chambers of
Commerce of ACP States, that such an organisation is now
being established which could be a critical instru~ent
in developing Intra-ACP trade.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84
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13
As I stated at the beginning, Mr. President, it is
absolutely necessary that Lome III succeeds in stimu-
1 ating the economies of the ACP States, for that
stimulation is itself a necessary element for inter-
national economic recovery.
The objectives of that recovery can also benefit signi-
fic3!1tly from the realisation of the one thousand
million dollar Fund for Africa being called for b~
t~e President of the World Bank, an initiative to
which tr.e ACP States ~uld appeal to their partners
to give full support.
Mr. ?ces:.sent, the negotiations have obviously not
ac~ieved e'!erything. Certain key concerns remain.
Our c:J::-r.oc i L es are still to be subject to the vagaries
of market forces, while our partners and every other
developed country protect their agriculture from the
full blast of these forces.
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14
One significantly dangerous consequence of this,
Mr. President, is the thre. at which it poses to the
achievement of our fundamental objective of food self-
sufficiency. Mr. President, we all know rhat we
can stimulate the farmer to produce more,by augmenting
his income. And that this latter can be achieved by
raising th! prices of his output and by reducing the cost
of his production inputs. The former tend to have major
social, economic and political consequences including
riots and other instabilities and in the absence of
remunerative prices for the exports of our major
commodity, ACP Governments would be hard-oressed to
fi. rd t~~e resources to subsidise farmers' inputs. Thus
there is a critical lacuna here and one is caacerned
that the C~nvention, i~ not dealing with commodity
prices, and/or special arrangements for manufactured
processed export products, may not have adequately
tackled this problem.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84
. .. / ...
15
If this analysis is correct, more financial assistance ~ '
would obviously be necessary
And here again we find a second justification for suppo~t
for the proposed World Bank Fund for Africa, especially
given the reduction in the resources of the International
Development Association.
Overall, Mr. President, apart from the volume of funds
if the~e is one key area of this Convention about which
we continue to have reservations it is the trade ~egime,
including the ~ules of origin. We would need to apply
them Hith the greatest sympathy and understanding to
provide the oppo~tunity which ACP States need. It is
that ir:1agination ar.d sensitivity, Mr. President, which
we would need to s~ow if we are to take advantage of
oppoctuni ties such as that offered for the inc~eased
exportation of ACP raw cane su~:ar to the EEC by the expected
entry of Portugal into the Community. The request by from the ACP,
Portugal to be allowed to import I 300 000 tonnes of
raw cane sugar annJally after it accedes to the Community
while not strictly a matter under the negotiations for
Lome III, provides an excellent example of the ~pe of
opportunity one would need to grasp if ACP States
are to be effectively assisted to increase their export
and badly needed foreign exchange earnings.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84
. .. I ...
16
Fail to do so and we endanger even the basic objectives
of food self-sufficiency. We fear that the Community
perhaps unwittingly, is about to do just that. And
this Mr. President, cannot be in the spirit of Lome III.
On the other hand, Mr. President, certain salutary
elements have been introduced to our Convention. For
the 30-odd years or more of post-war development
cooperation, a variety of imported models of develop-
ment prevails, while the dimension of indigenous culture
either figured marginally or was forgotten altogether.
It is to the credit of Lome III that an attempt has teen
m2de to re-situate culture at the centre of our development
efforts.
Regretfully, however, Mr. President, the vital question
of the treatment of ACP cultural goods held in EEC
Member States ~~s not resolved in our negotiations.
Thus, an invaluable part of our national partimony;
our heritage and history· for fut~e generations remains
unregulated by our Convention. ~e hold strongly to
the view, Mr. President, that this matter will continue
to rankle our relations, and we consequently reserve
the right to seek to discuss this matter within our
institutional framework during the life of Lome II.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84
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Mr. President, having negotiated and signed Lome III
it is critical that every signatory country make the
greatest possible effort for its most urgent ratification
so that the Convention can come into force without any
undue delay. The prevailing condition in many of our
countries cannot afford any such delay. It is there-
fore a task of mutual support and each state must
undertake this process extremely rapidly.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84
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Mr. President, the Convention which we sign today
is the product of the efforts of numerous organisations
Ministers, Officials, etc. It is a product of basic
rethinking and an attempt tc refashlon as much as possible
within the constraints of existing circumstances, an
instrument of cooperati01 and development for the ACP
and EEC States; an instrument which faces as squarely
as possible the harsh problems of the absence of ACP
basic food for the populations of ACP States after
tHenty years of independence ard development cooperation
Hi':~ Europe; an instrument which recognises Europe's de~er.dence
on these ACP en •..;n tries for many of their raw materials
minerals and export markets; an instrument which realises
that developmen~ of a people must be in terms of their
own objecti·tes, values, culture and priorities.
Lome ts therefore something of a new departure and I
can only thank all t~ose who have made it possible,
commending with Your Excellency President of Togo,
who, did not only offer to host the signing ceremony, but
journeyed co Brussels and inspired our Ambassadors ard
Secretariat in their work.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84 ... I ...
19
I must also pay tribute to my predecessors - Minister
Mogwe of Botswana and Deputy Prime Minister Shearer of
Jamaica. Without their herculean efforts and those of
the Ministerial spokesmen - all of whom have earned
our gratitude, there would hardly have teen a Convention
to be signed today. The same must be
said of our Ambassadors in Brussels, the Ambassadorial
Sp0kesmen (some of them now Ministers, and their Committee
Chairmen. It is they who did the bulk of the work and
can truly be called the yeomen of our army of workers.
Next for the ACP, I wish to place on rec~rd my appreciation
for our Secretariat, which strove often in diffieult
circumstances, to serve us all.
Fir,::.lly, for the ACP, I must thank the ACP States themselves,
their officials in their capitals who provided the vital
link between the negotiators and the be~eficiaries.
On the EEC side, I must express our app:eciation to the
work of Presidents Haralarnbopoulos and Cheysson, \-:~o
opposite my two predecessors, made the possible progress t~en
achieved. I must also pay, on behalf of all
of us, a very special tribute to Commissioner Pisani
and his team headed by the Director General of the
Development Cooperation Directorate.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ArP/21/02S/A4 . ... I ...
20
They bra..ght their fair share of new thoughts and
understanding to our efforts and as the Commissioner's
skills are already being put to solving other difficult
problems - indeed in my own part of the world - I want
to place on record, our enduring appreciation of his
contribution. May he find equally equitable solutions to
the serious problems now being faced by our brothers in
that troubled area. I
And finally, my dear Co-President, it is your calmness,
balance, frankness and appreciation of the fundamental
impor~ance of what our cooperation means to both sides
Wiich helped up over those final, difficult and tricky
steps. I w~sh to thank you sincerely on behalf of the
entire ACP Group of States.
Long live the President of Togo, Long Live the Govern~ent
and People of Togo, Long Live ACP/EEC Cooperation.
I THANK YOU.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX II) ACP/21/025/84
ANNEXE III
Allocution du President de la Commission des Communautes
Europeennes
Lome le 8 decembre 19S4
Monsieur le President
Monsieur le President
Monsieur le President
Monsieur le President
Me,s dames et Messieurs
Mesdames et Messieurs
Mesdames et Messieurs,
AC?-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) ACP/21/025/84
de
du
du
du
les
les
la Republique,
Conseil des Ministres ACP,
Conseil des Communautes Europeennes,
Parlement Europeen,
Ministres, Excellences,
D€Uegues,
... I ...
Nous voici a Lorn~ pour la troisi~me fois ensemble. L'acte que nous
a 11 o n s a c c om p 1 i r au j our d ' h u i e s t b i e n d a v an t a g e c 9~.<c. ~ QIZC..O n d u c t i o n d u
pacte scell~ il y a dix ana. Le monde a chang~ et notre ambition
est plus grande.
Oui nous renouvellons !'engagement de l'Europe aux cotes de l'Afri(
des Caraibes et du Pacifique. Mais en signant cette Convention
no us franchissons un nouveau pas, car cette Convention va plu
loin. Elle approfondit, elle ~tend, elle reinvente notre coop~ •
tion, elle l'adapte aux temps nouveaux et en cela elle restP
a !'inspiration dont Lorn~ est devenu le symbole.
Si cette avancee est possible aujourd'hui, si notre opinion, noH
pe~ples peuvent A bon droit se rejouir de ce nouveau d~part, c'est
que pendant plus d'un an de n~gociations des femmes et des hommes
de bonne volant~ ant consacre leur energie A rechercher taus les
moyens de res serer nos liens ,.r kl'\i.c~o~affronter 1' avenir ensemble.
Je voudrais a cet egard rendre~ommage chaleureux aux Ministres AC
Messieurs Mogwe, Shearer et Namaliu, ainsi que les Presidents du
Conseil des Ministres de la Communaute: Messieurs les Ministres
Haralambopoulos, Cheysson et Barry qui ant tour A tour avec lucidi
et sagesse assume la lourde ~~che d'ouvrir, de conduire et de con~
clure avec succ~s cette tache difficile.
Je voudrais ~galement remercier lea negocia~eurs ACP, et en partie';
lier l'Ambassadeur Cavalevu qui a conduit avec sagesse la premiere
phase des negociations, lea Ambassadeurs Kazunga et Okelo et l'Am
bassadeur Diara A qui est revenue la lourde charge d'elaborer avec
lea negociateurs de la Commission le compromis final.
Ma gratitude s'adresse aussi a taus les courants qui dans l'opinio 1
publique ant soutenu l'effort de r~flexion et avance des propositi.J
constructives. J~ pense en particulier aux travaux des parlemen
taires europeens, au sein de la Commission du d~veloppemen~, 1ci
representee par son President Madame Focke.
Je voudrais surtout rendre hommage a Edgard Pisani dont le souhait
le plus cher eut et~ de signer cette Convention et de conclure
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE III) ACP/21/025/84
... I . ..
ainsi une owvre qu'il aura de bout en bout marqu~ de ~on empreinte.
Homme de r~flexion et de dialogue, Edgard Pisani a su rappeler
aux responsables europfens que le devenir de l'Europe, se jouait
autant a l'ext~rieur, dans la solidarit~ et l'approfondissement
des liens avec le Tiers Monde, qu'a l'int~rieur des frontieres
de la Communaut~. Il c su egalement tenir aux pays -et aux
gouvernements partenaires du Tier~ Monde un langage de verite ~
que seuls autorisaient son exp~rience, sa profonde angoisse de-
vant le drame de la faim, de la progression du desert, la
guerre, et sa foi dans la capacite de nos peuples a affronter
et surmonter ces d~fis.
Edgard Pisani a ~te appele a une autre oeuvre de paix et de
dialogue. Qu'il sache, notre gratitude pour la clairvoyance
et la tenacit~ qu'il a apportees ala consolidation et a la
renovation de notre Corvention.
Une Convention qui, consolide l'acquis et l'esprit de notre
cooperation, qui en prtcise les objectifs, une Convention r~no
vee dans la plupart de ses dispositions, enrichie de notre ex-
perience commune, ~largie a de nouveaux domaines d'actions, adap~
tee aux r~alites et au~ defis de cette fin de si~cle.
-Mais, avant de parler de l'avenir de notre coop~ration et de
!'instrument que nous zvons forge ensemble, je voudrais me tourner
un instant vera le proche passe, vers cette annee de negociations
que nous venons de traverser. Certes, pour qui considere les
necessites politiques, le succes d'aujourd'hui peut paraitre
normal et comme inscrit d'avance dans les astres.
Pourtant, je demande qu'on se souvienne de la situation de l'Europe,
il y a un an quand se soot ouvertes nos n~gociations: Une Communaut~
menac~e dans son existence meme par le d~veloppement de forces
centrifuges activees par la crise ~conomique mondiale.
Je demande qu'on se soLvienne du climat international, de l'etat
du dialogue Nord~Sud, r•aralyse par l'egoisme des puissants, le
gel des imaginations et des volont~s, et qui de l'~chec de la
Cnuced a Belgrade, A 12 reduction drastique des moyens ae l'IDA
n'accumulait que deceptions et rancoeurs.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE III) ACP/21/025/84
... I . ..
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r'S uuva~t etre certain que, renoncant A rester le mod~le
et la r6ftrence, la Communaute n'allait pas, en attendant des
jours meilleurs, tenter de reconduire sans bruit, a peu de frais,
au moindre coOt un con.trat qui fut exemplaire ? Qui pouvait !tre
assur6 que devant ce risque lea Etats ACP n'allaient pas choisir
la surenchere et la confrontation ?
Si nous semmes ici aujourd'hui, a celebrer la fete de notre coop0
ration, c'est que de chaque cote ~nt pr~valu en meme temps que
la sagesse et l'invention, le sene des responsabilitl!s, la cun1J
mutuelle et pour tout dire, l'amitie. C'est sur cette base que
s'est nouee une authentiquenegociation, que se sont exerces des
rapports de force reels et je dais souligner ici la force qu'a
represente dans le debat un groupe ACP uni et ferme sur sea
positions de negociation.
Cette force, nous l'avons mesuree tout au long de cette annee,
c'est a elle que l'on doit une bonne pARr des enrichissements
et des innovations dont nous nous felicitons aujourd'hui; je pense
en particulier a la place ~onnee dans notre action future A la
dimension socio-culturelle, ala s~curite accrue du regime des
echanges, du Stabex, du Sysmin,. A 1' amelioration des regles
d'ori$ine, ala vigueur nouvelle donnee a nos institutions. -Mais si comme il est normal dans une negociation, lea rapports
de force ont joue, me plais a souligner qu'il n'y a pas eu de
confrontation autre que celles des idees, des propositions
constructives.
Il n'y a pas eu d'autre debat au fond, d'autre ~nterrogation
que celle;ci, .fondamentale: comment faire plus, faire mieux, faire
plus efficacement pour le developpement des pays ACP, pour le
mieux-~tre et l'epanouissement de leurs peuples ?
Et ce n'est pas un hasard si, hormis la difficile question des
ressources financi~res, les deux th~mes qui ont le plus marque nos
negociations, qui ont le plus retenu l'attention de l'opinion
ont ete celle du respect de la dignite de l'homme et de ses
droits fondamentaux d'une part, cell~ d'une plus grande effica
cite de notre cooperation a travers le dialogue d'autre part .
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE III) ACP/21/025/84
. . . I ...
- 4 -
~our la premi~re fois dans l'hiatoire de notre coop6r~tion, nos
negociateurs ant convenu -de traiter pleinement et explicitement,
dans la Convention, la question des droits de l'Hornme et du res
pect de sa dignite. C!est la un signe clair de la maturite de
nos relations et de notre confiance mutuelle. Certes, chacun de
nos Etats, chacun de nos peuples avaient, dans d'autres enceinte~
proclame leur attachement a ces droits fondamentaux et leur enga
ge~ent a les promouvoir.
Mais cette fois-ci, surrnontant lea reticences du passe, nous
faisons de cet engagement un element de notre patrimoine cornmun.
Nous proclamons ensemble, avec l'assurance tranquille qu'autorisent
notre longue amitie, notre foi dans les droits fondamentaux de
l'Homme, dans la dignite et la valeur de la personne humaine, dans
l'egalite des droits des homrnes et des femmes. Nous reaffirmons
dans une declaration commune, en ayant bien pese toutes le8 impli-
cations, "le droit de chaque individu, dans ~n propre pays au
dans un pays d'accueil au respect de sa dignite et a la protection
de la Loi".
Qui ne mesure, en ces temps troubles, oa parfois les valeurs bas
culent, la valeur du message que nous lan~ons ainsi ensemble a l'opinion mondiale ?
Il est une autre leGon que je voudrais tirer des longs debats
que n o u s a v o n s e u au r 1 e t hem ·e d u " d i a 1 o g u e a u r 1 e a p o 1 i t i q u e s " . Q u e
de passions, que d'inquietudes, que de malentendus auscites par
ce concept que la Communaute n'avait pourtant avance, dans le
souci d'une meilleure efficacite de l'aide, que cornme une conse
quence mecanique de la diversification de nos formes d'interven
tion
Si l'expression a ·suscite une telle effervescence, ce n'est nulle
rnent parce que l'idee d'une cooperation plus efficace etait recusee.
Ce n'est pas non plus, j'ose le croire, parce que le mot ou le conv£f
de dialogue etait suspect entre partenaires confiants et egaux.
Non, si doute il y a eu, c'est parce que certains ont cru voir dans
cette idee la remise en cause par la Communaute de la contractualite
de nos relations et - allons jusqu'au bout - certains ant pu ima
giner que la Communaute voulait par la conditionner son aide a l~option par sea partenaires de politiques decidees en-dehors d'eux
A~P-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE III) Ar:P/21/025/B4
---------------------
... I .. .
- 5 -
Je le dis clairement et ~ranquillement ici, reprenant d'ailleurs
les d~clarations du Commissaire au d~veloppement et des porte
parole minist~riels de la Communaut~ durant toutes les negociations:
telle n'a jamais ~te"notre intention. La Communaute n'a pas la
vocation, et moins encore la volent~ de S 1 arroger un tel role.
La encore, nos negociateurs ont agi avec lucidite. Ecartant
' resolument tout risque d 1 empietement sur la souverainete des
E t a t s A C P , i 1 s o n t p o u r t a n t i n t e g r ~ 1 1 e x i g e n c e d ' u n e ctd..o.ptn. t. 1 C."'
de notre aide, de nos modes de faire, de nos instruments aux \!,., ...
~..::icJrJCll"'\q,...ts de 1 1 exp~rience.
La leyon que je voudrais tirer de nos debats est celle-ci: oui,
la situation du Tiers-Monde est critique; elle appelle un effort
particulier de la Communaute internationale, un accroissement,
ou tout au mains un maintien en termes reels du niveau de l'aide
publique, une am~lioration notable de la coordination entre
donneurs d'aide, et entre l'aide publique et les operateurs
prives; elle appelle une mise en oeuvre beaucoup plus efficace
car les ressources sont limitees et les besoins immenses. Mais
prenons garde cependant a ne pas intervertir les roles.
,Nos partenaires sont des Etats souverains et rien ne peut se
·construire hors du respect scrupuleux de cette souverainete.
Je viens d'evoquer les deux ~heroes qui ont suscit~ le plus de
d~bats entre nous. Je n'esquiverai par le troisieme qui, bien
que formellement hors du ~hamp des negociations, a tout de meme
occupe nos esprits et alimente bien des discussions: celui des
ressources financieres de la nouvelle Convention. Je dirai a . cet egard des chases simples.
Bien sur, compares aux taches a entreprendre, les 8,5 milliards
d'Ecus que la Communaute engage pour lea cinq ans a venir parais
sent insuffisants: Qui n'aurait souhaite pouvoir faire davantage ?
Mais 1 1 effort consenti permettra cependant d'accroitre notre
capacite d'intervention et d'etendre notre coop~ration a de nouveaux
pays ACP.
Ainsi notre effort ne s'est pas relach~, malgre la crise et lea
difficultes budgetaires de la Communaute et de ses Etats membres.
Ce n'est pas un mince resultat. Qu'on se souvienne un instant
que la premiere Convention de Lome ffit sign~e par une Communaute
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE III) ACP/21/025/84
\
... I ....
- 6 -
alors au faite de sa puissance ~conomique et commerc;ale, que
la deuxi~me Convention fut conclue en 1979 par une Europe qui, le
premier choc p~trolier surmont~ et le deuxi~me pas encore survenu,
pouvait se croire biantot sortie du tunnel. On salt les d~sordres
6conomiques et mon~taires survenus depuis lora.
Pourtant l'Europe, la Communa~te ne renonce pas. Elle ne renonc~
malgre la crise, ni ~ une politiqVe de developpement originale ~
fait partie int~grante de son identit~, ni A see liens privilP~
avec les pays ACP. Elle ne recule pas devant l'immensite des d&f•
qu'affrontent sea partenaires et particuli~r ement le continent
africain. Le d~fi de la secheresse et de l'avancee apparemment
inexorable du d~sert, l'abandon des campagnes par des paysans san~
espoir s'agglutinant auteur des cites, l'errance des refugi6s dans
diverses parties du continent, la desertion des investisseurs
etrangers, d~courages par le surcroit de risques et le mauvais
fonctionhement ct'economies en butte aux penuries d'infrastructures
et de devises, et surtout - d~fi supreme- celui de la faim, spectrt
hideux qu'il y a dix ans nous nous croyions en mesure de vaincre,et
qui aujourd'hui nous interpelle encore plus dramatiquement que
jama.is.
Qu'on me permette, en cette occasion solennelle oQ nous fetons
notre cooperation, d'evoquer les dizaines de milliers d'etre humains
deja frapp~s par le monstre, ~es centaines de milliers d'hommes, de
femmes et d'enfants fam~liques qui, sur ce continent, risquent de
succomber ~ leur tour si ne s'organise un supreme effort de soli
darite entre lea hommes.
Qu'il me soit.permis .de dire, avec toute la retenue qu'imposent les
dimensions de ce drame, que la Communaute fait, en coordination avec
totJtes les instances nationales et internationales, toutes les
organisations agissant sur le terrain, tout ce qui est humainement
possible pour ~viter le pire.
Vous connaissez les chiffres: 85 millions d'Ecus ont ~te debloques
par la Communaute au mois d'avril 1984 au titre d'un premier plan
d'urgence, 60 millions ont et~ d~bloques en novembre pour un
second plan d'urgence. Ces actions s'ajo~tent au programme annuel
d'aide alimentaire de la Communaute 1984.
1\CI '-CEr~/ 2 2~.>1)/ 84 (Pre sse 211) ( ANNEXE II I) 1\t 1'/? l 1025/B4
. .. I . ..
J'ajoute qu'~ ra suite bu ~bn$eil ••~ C&ef~ d 1 Etata et de Gouverne
ments qui vient de se te~ir l Dublin, la Communaute et ses Etats
membres mettent en oeuvre pour 1985 un nouveau programme de fourni
turee portant sur 1.2QO.OOO tonnes de c6r&alee en faveur des pays
africaine lea plus frappes par la 86cheres!e et la famine.
Mais chacun le sait, l'aide d 1 ur~ence indispensable l'aide ali-
mentaire h6las n~cessaire ne sont que des palliatifs, des r6pons.
ponctuelles A des situati6ns de c~i~e. 11 faut combattre le mal
1 a racine , c ' est -l- dire rev it a 1 is e t' 1 a production v 1 v r i e r· '·
r6animer les communaut!s rurales, organiser la fourniture au~ pa:·
des intrants n6cesaaires, la diffusion des techniques, eviter leJ
pertes apr~s recolte, a~eliarer la commercialisation des produits,
prevoir le stockage.
Bref, il faut mettre au point des strategies alimentaires globales
qui n'excluent ni le recours en cas de n6cessit~ A l'aide alimentair
ext6rieure, ni l'~ventu&lite d'impotlations, mais qui partent d'une
vision. globale de la ~eturit~ alimehta~re fonj~e d'abord sur le
d6veloppement de la production int!rieure.
C'est la une id6e maitresse qui se retrouve dans !'important cha
pitre de notre Convention consa~r6 l la cooperation agricole,
·J ' a u r a i s v o u 1 u c i t e r d a 1'1 s 1 ·e u r s d e t a i 1 s t o u t e s 1 e a a u t r e s i n n o v a -
tions et ameliorations ~ui marquent la nouvelle Convention. 11 me
semble cependant que j~ re~diais mieux justice au travail de nos
negociateurs si je disaia plut6t quell~ fut leur demarche politique.
Celle-ci tient en trois mouvements complementaires, et tous trois
egalement indispensable!:
- maintenir 1lacquis des Conventions prec6dentes
- am61iorer ~ensiblemeht iiefficacit6 de la cooperation ACP-CEE
- ctepasser la tonventibh elie-~@me, contrat de coop~ration entre
puissintes pub1iques 1 ~bury associe~ davant•ge lea operateurs
priv!s des deux cOtes.
Maintenir l'acquis de Lorn! II apparaissait indispensable au plan
politique pout garantir 1a ~Acurite de nos relations: securite des
engagements financiers contract~s pout cinq ans; securite offerte
par le regime des echankes et par lea instruments originaux de
co operation: le Stabe* 1 le Sysmin, le protocole sucre; securite
de notre cadre institutionnel dans lequel tous lea probl~mes tau
chant A notre cooperation peuvent !tre d~battus en vue d'6labore~_
ensemble des solutions.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX£ III) ACP /1l/025/B4
I • • • I • • •
- 8 .:..
.La s~curit~ exigeait le maintien de ces instruments qui ont fait
leurs preuves. Nous lea ~vons maintenus.
Ma1s <l l'exlgeuce de continuit~ s'ajoutait une autre exigence: cellc
d'une sensible am~lioration de l'efficacit~ de notre coop~ration.Ici
~galement le travail accompli par nos n~gociateurs a ~t~ conside
rable. La nouvelle Conventio~, mieux structur~e. profondement ri
rassemble autour d'un corps de principes et d'objectifs communs.
' instruments revue a la lumi~re de' notre exp~rience collective.
Enfin troisi~me tAche importante, nos n~gociateurs se sonL ct r.,
de rechercher lea moyens d'impliquer davantag~ lea op~rateurs P'
dans la coop6ration ACP-CEE. Car qui ne comprend en effet que 1·~~-
tion publique, quels que aoient lea moyens mis en jeu, ne prend sa
pleine efficacit~ que dans la mesure ou elle peut mobiliser les
energies, lea capacit~s d'entreprendre, dans la Communaute comme
dans lea pays ACP ?
Lea textes novateurs ~u'- ont ~t~ adopt~s dans la nouvelle Conventioll
sur la peche, sur les transports maritimes, sur lea investissements
prives repondent A cette preoccupation, de m@me que les dispositionE
nouvelles concernant le Centre de developpement industriel et la
Banque Europeenne d'Investissement .
. A p~opos des investissements prives, je veux noter que bien qu'A
nous tous, nous repr~sentions un eventail A peu pr~s complet de
toutes les conceptions en mati~re de regime et d'organisation econo
mique, nous avons evite tout conflit ideologique et nous so~m~s
tombes d'accord sur un texte clair, engageant et constructif. Cela
n'a d'equivalent a ma connaissance dans aucune autre enceinte multi-
laterale et ~ci encore je vois la marque
dynamiame de notre cooperation.
de l'originalite et du
L'accord que nouascellons est un acte important de la vie interna
tionale. La Conference d'aujourd'hui est peut-etre l'exemple le plu:
acheve de ce que devrait to~ours etre le dialogue Nord Sud: un
debat ou l'affrontement des idees conduit toujoure a l'adoption de
dispositions pratiques, d'engagementeconcrete de portee tangible
et immediate pour nos peuples.
Nous avons A present pour etre fid~les A nous-memes, a mettre en
oeuvre cette Convention avec la meme opiniatrete, la mSme exigence
que nous avons apporte ~ la negocier. Il y va de la valeur d'exempl~
de notre coop~ration et pour tout dire de sa survie~meme.
1\CI'-CEE/22'-,f>/ 13,1 ( Pre:;>>C 21. l) ( 1\NNI~XE I I I.) ACP/21/025/84
.J'ajoute qu'A la suite hu t~hsell ~a~ Chefs d'Etats et de Gouverne
ments qui vient de se tenir a Dublin, la Communaut~ et ses Etats
membres mettent en oeuvre pour 1985 un nouveau programme de fourni
tures portant sur 1.2QO.OOO tonnes de c~r~ales en faveur des pays
africains lea plus frapp~s par la s~ch~resse et la famine.
Mais chacun le sait, l'aide ct1urgen~e indispensable l'aide ali-
mentaire h~las n~cessaire ne sont que des palliatifs, des r6pons.
ponctuelles a des situations de c~~•e. !1 faut combattre le mal
la racine, c'est-a-dire revitaliser la production vivri~r~
r~animer lea communaut~s ruralea, organiser la fourniture au~ pa:·
des intrants n~cessaires, la diffusion des techniques, ~viter les
pertes apr~s r~colte~ a~~liorer la commercialisation des produits,
pr~voir le stockage.
Bref, 11 faut mettre au point des strat~gies alimentaires globales
qui n'excluent ni le recourE en cas de n~cessit~ A l'aide alimentair
exterieure, ni l'eventualit~ d'impo~tations, mais qui partent d'une
visiol'l. globale de la ~~t~rit~ alimebtaire fon~~e d'abord sur le
d~veloppement de la production iht~rieure.
C'est la une id~e maitresse qui se retrouve dans l'important cha
pitre de notre Convention consa~re A la coop~ration agricole.
·J'aurais voulu citer dal'ls leurs d~tails toutes les autres innova-
tions et ameliorations ~ui marquent la nouvelle Convention. 11 me
semble cependant que je rertdiais mieux justice au travail de nos
negociateurs si je disals plut6t quelle fut leur d~marche politique.
Celle-ci tient en troiS mbuvemerits complementaires, et taus trois
~galement indispensable!:
- maintenir lJacquis des Conventions pr~cedentes
- am~liorer aensiblemerit ii~fficacit~ de la cooperation ACP-CEE
- depasser la Convention elie-~~me, contrat de cooperation entre
puissances publiquesi pour y asaocie~ davan~age lea op~rateurs
priv~s des deux cOt~s.
Maintenir l'acquis de Lorn~ II apparaissait indispensable au l•lan
poljtique pour garantir la s~curite de nos relations: securite des
engagements financiers contract~s pou~ cinq ana; s~curite offerte
par le r~gime des echan~es et par lea instruments originaux de
co operation: le Stabexi le Sysmin, le protocole eucre; securite
de notre cadre inatitutionnel dana lequel taus lea probl~mes tau
chant A notre coop~ration peuvent etre d~battus en vue d'~labore~
ensemble des solutions.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE III) ACP/21/025/84
I • • • I • • •
. "
ANNEXE IV
Allocution prononcee par le General Gnassinghe EYADEMA,
President de la Republique togolaise, •
a !'occasion de la signature de
la troisieme Convention de Lome ·
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) ACP/21/025/84
~riSleur le President du Conse11 des Mlnlstres de la Cornmunaut~ Economtque Europ~onne,
1-bnsleur le Pr6sldent du Conse11 des Ministres des Etats d'Afr1que, dos Caralbes el du Pacifique,
NOnstaur le President do la ComNtssion des Co~aJ.Jnautes Europeennes,
~nsteur le President du Parlement Euro~en,
Monsieur le President de l'Assemhlee Consultative,
Messieurs l~s Mtntstres, Ghefs de Delegation,
.· Excellences l~ssieurs les Aabassadeurs,
l~norables lnvftes,
14:!sdames et ~~ssteurs,
Militantes at Mllttants de la Revolution Togola1s! I
.... -"7"",-.- .
'! ' I
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE IV)
Pour la tr1Jlsieme fois
consec.ut1ve, notre cap1tale s'honore
d'accueillit' a sa manlike, les diyrms
plimlpotentiaires que vous etes, venus
signer au noiD de vos Etats et du vos
Institutions, la.Convontlon histortque
de LtWL
l·bn pr'emler trot !WI'll do
VOUS SOUhl\1 ter a tOUS I i.IIJ 0010 d(J
Puuplo Togolnls, de son Part! d'llnlon,
lo Rnsnr..-••hlnmont du Peuplu Tojolrds,
de mon Gouvernement e t en mon nom
personnel' la ,Jlus corJlalo ulunvenuu
a LUr.f. et de vous rarmrcier d'avolr
nct.:eptci notre invH;d1on a proceder
pour la lroislorne fols, it lil signature
do cotta Convention on terre afrlcalno.
ACP/21/025/84 ... I . ..
- 1 -
( ,.
:I o I
Pur If~ tlOZ-lOOf ega J 8lll81l t
d' exprioor fc I, nos s inc ores
sentiments de yratftude aux diffril'unls i
orateurs pour les paroles fort afmaule!
qu'fls vfennent d'adresser a l'androlt
de notre pays et de Da modnste "· personm
Enffn, je voudrafs
saluer Ia prdsence parmi nous
du Vfce Prernfer Mfnfs trs de 1 a
Repub l fque PopuJ_a Ire de CIJ1ne
qu 1' protftant de 1 'occasion de
sa vlslte offlclelle au Tol)o, a
I.Jlen voulu assfster aux ciit•emonfes
de 111 signature de cette Convention.
Apr~s plus d'une annrie de
negoclatfons ardues, faftes d'lpres
discussions, de longuos journoos de
travafl' de nufts sans sommufl Je '
Puuple Togolafs tfent a vous creer les
conc1ftlons do quolquos fnstarJls do
detente bfen m8r1tee malgr6 la modestle
~e ses rooyons. ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE IV)
C'est pourquof
la Jeunesse lc1 rassewbl~e
davant vous, a travers ses
chansons ot sos slo~ans, vous
1nv1te a vous sent1r a LOI.£
comue chez vous.
La careaonfa de la signature
de c8tte trolsfeme Convention entre los
Etats des A G P et ceux de la G E [
marque en effet una date ca~1talo dans
l'hfstofre des relations humafnes.
Cette Gonvantfon est
l'afffrmatfon do notre gr~nd sentfmant
d'appartonfr a une CO!nll1Unaut6 d' fnt6rots
fatto d'un plura11s~ de pauplos et do
nations dont la dfvers1t6 h la fo1s
pol1tfque, econo~1quo, soc1olog1quo at
culturo11o constltue la rlchesso dans la
rechorcho dtl 11leux~tro do 11 honnlle, do
touc los holl1!1lOS,
ACP/21/025/84 ... I . ..
- 2 -
Ella est lo symbole vtvant
de ce qun pout htre la volonte des
hommes lorsque, oubHant ce tflt paut
las opposer, tls se dac1dont a 88
donnor 1a matn pour bSUr lo pont de
lz nucessa1re soltdartte entre eux.
Cot esprit qua nous
avons crae dans la recherche du
f!ouvel Ordre International qu1 nous
est char dolt dAsormats prendre
corps dans las relattons Nord-Sud
ct se d~velopper chaqua jour. ·------- •----• •-
Vous co11pranez pourquo 1
le Peuple Togol a is vous a encore
une fois propose le modeste cadre
de sa capitale pour la signature de
la Convention, af\n de perpetuer
l'asprH deLOit, fa1t de cet elan
de generos1te qui ant1c1pe sur la
soltdar1te untversolle.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE IV)
Per100 t tez-mo1 do
saluer le courage, la foi et l'esprH
de sacrtftce des artisans de cat Accord
et de fel1c1tor tous ceux qut, a des
- 3 -
degres divers, ont contrfiJue au succes . . ~-:.~~~~ ... 1!!:·-~-~~-~-
des negoc 1 a tions de LOI.£ Uh~-=,,....,....-.-,-·"
t~ ponsee va tout part1cu-
11ereuXJnt h vous ~bsstours les Presidents
des Conse1ls des Ntn1stres ACP - CEE.
Je n'aurats garde dg passer
sous silence l'actton ddterrnlnante
menee par M. Claude GIIEYSSOH et H. SIU£R
dans los phases critiques des ncgoclat1ons
Ja vowlril1 s ognl enu n t rendre
un homma~e rrer 1 to a 1.\. Gas ton Tt101W . I
~·ds1dent de la Commission alns1 qu 1 ~
il. Pl:l/dll, defenseur fnfat1gaule de ces
nouve3ux Accords.
ACP/21/025/84 ... I ...
. I
A vous tous Hoss1ours les t\1nlstres
et Chefs da Dolca~tton nous adrsssons
nos plus v1ves f~11cttat1ons sans
oubllar vos collaboratours at le
. _personnel do YOS secretf\riats,
·~--~~ .. ····
Mesdames et ~less lours,
11 seratt superflu de fafra
1ct le b1lan des zarftes ot des acqufs
de notre instrument de cooperation.
Lo fa1t •a~o que par tru1s fots
success tverou nt nous rea ff I roons no tro
volonta de rester ensa~bla sst una
~reuve de son eff1cac1te.
•.
I .
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE IV) ACP/21/025/84 ... I ...
Jo voudrals soulu~ant jbter un reyard
en arr1eru pour oosuror le chet1!n
parcouru pnr 1 e 11onda de flU t s notre
dern1are ran con tro de LUt·IE en 1979.
Un to1 regard ne nous inspire d'autra
SIHtt1runt qua cB1u1 dn 11 inquietude :
- Jnqul~tude duvant l'amplour do
la cr1se economlquo qui frappe le ronde;
- lnquletuu~ devant 1'ego1sme et
l'tndlfferonce des Peuples nantls
- Inquietude dovant 1es souffrance:
des Peuples darnunls;
- \nqute tude anf In davant 1' imputs
sa nee de 11 human \te a trouvor 1 OS SO 1 U t1ons
adequates a sas rnaux. Comme vous 1e savez, las annees 7(
nous entratna1ent dans las profondeurs de 1.
crtse econom1que dont nous pens1ons taus vo
la f\n avec le Jebut de cette decennle.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 2111 (ANNEXE IV)
Ouel n'a 6td notre
desonchanteoont tlo const'ater qua nos
pays s' 1nstalla1»nt, slnon def1n1t1ve
roo n t du ~Ins pour una 1 ongue pur 1 ode,
dans un marasmu paralysant.
Lo dave JopperJant do 1a plupart de nos . ~-~-- ~./-~-==-·-~
P"Ys so trouva1t a1ns1 Tr.ai'O[~~,~-~
Le n1venu d'endetteoont
de nos Etats r6sultant des efforts
de deve loppemunt que nous avons
ontreprts dnns la d~cennla pnss~e,
~ggrav6 11 faut le dire par la
hau~:se des tnux rl' lntarets, conjugue
a la fluctuation des monna1es
princfpulos et particu11ere~mnt le
dollar, a·donn6 un coup d'arrlt h
notre devo 1 oppe r.m nt.
ACP/21/02)/84 . .. I ...
Car vous le savez, las maigras
reGsources que nous procurent
l'exportat1on de nos mat1erns
pram1ores dont les cours ne ·
cossent do sa ddt6r1orer, sont
a pc1ne suff tsantes pour fa ira
face au service de la datto.
Les efforts do romlse en
ordre de nos finances, les onorroos
1 sacr1ftces consenUs par nos peuples
I
A
pour sup~1or ter 1 es roosures dracon 1 ennes ·
d'assalnissamunt et do rodressement
n'ont pas suffl ~ nou~ gu~r\r de nos
maux, losquels se sont encore ~-ggraves par les effats nefastos de la s6choress~
parststante qu1 frappe dureoont les pays
afrlcains au sud du Sahara.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEX£ IV)
C'est dans ces conutt1ons que les
aacan!SIII8S de ln Convention UB LOI·£ se
sont avaros p~rfofs 1noperants, p~rfots
1nsuff1sants, au ~amont ou dans las
en~elntes tntarnattonales, les pleuses
resolutions tend ant a entre prendre des
act Ions en faveur du Tlors-t'onda
resta1ent lattre morto, butant sur
11 ayoTs1110 e t l' lncolllprehenslun Jus pajS
riches. --------
Aujourd'hu1 encore B1 rlen
n'est faft en profondell' pour porter
re111~de a cat tHat de chosot H est b
cralnure quo le fossa na se creuse
davantage antra las pays du Sud at
ceux du flord. ------~------~·---------------- --·---------~-------·--·--·-·-··-
ACP/21/025/84
11 est done temps quo los
Pauplus des pays ddvaloppos en g6ndral
et coux de l'Europo en part1cu11ar,
co~prennont l'essance pre~1ere de la
cooporat1on afln qu'onsemble nous
plac1ons dans nos rapports los prlnc1pes
plus nobles de comtaJnauto de dest1n dos
hommas et d1 1nterots mutuels des Peuplas.
Ce sont cas prlnc1pes, sur lesquels so
fonde deja la Convent1on de LOJ.£ qui
dot van t dosorma is- gu1der notre denmrche
dans la rncherche de co Houval Ordra. quf
tarde a wn \r.
C'est lorsquo nous aurons
reuss1 a 10ra11sar le co~~eroe
1nternatfonal et quo lous los produlls
6chang6s seront pay6s ~ luur justu prix,
en dehors de 1' ac Uon des specula tours,
que nous aurons falt le pas decls1f dans
c~tla vole. Alors la cooperation aura
prts una autro s1gn1flcatlon, mottant
en faco des partana!ros dconomlqua~ent
eyaux, parco que consclonls do. leur
tntordopondance ot de lour oolllplhenlorlhi.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 21if (ANNEXE IV)
Dans l'hsodlat, 11 nous
app:1ralt d'una urganca extra~ que des
Esuras plus aff1cocas q_Ja callas
jusqu'tcl ut111sees soient prlsos pour
allog~r le fardeau de la dotte puhllqua
du Tiers-J.l,onda.
En etret, los mecnnlsJUes •Is en place
auss1 bien au ntvoau dos 1nstllutlons
monritafres fntomntfonn)e!; que dans
le cadre des club do Parts ou do
londres, ont seulot1ent pour effel
d'e'ndormlr los malddus que sont no!>
6conomlue sons pouvolr los yuerlr.
Ce eont dos moouros
vtgourousos pouvant all~r jusqu'A
l'annulut I on pure at s 1111ple de certa 1nes
dettos quf nous sarnblent plus 1nd1queos.
A cot effet un d1alogua frunc et
objectff do1t s'atabllr antre los pnys
ondolttis ot lours croanclurs.
ACP/21/025/84 ... I . ..
---------------------- --~------·
Ge dlaloyuu pourruit premlr•u
1a forroo d'uno aulr·e cunferenco Hurd-Sud
sous 1'8g1de des !lations Unles, du fonds
l·bne la 1 re lnternnli on a 1 e t tle 1 a Banque
1.\.Jnu t a 1 e.
U'un autre cute, 1' idue de la
cr~atton d'un Fonds Sprictal au nlvuau de
la Oanque l·bndfale, destlne a la r·elanc..:e
des 6conom!es des pays afrtcains les plus
eprouvos, nous par~tt uno 1nlt1attvo
heureuse que nos partena1res europtiens
dofvent encourager.
113sdames e t ~'llss 1 eurs,
Oans ce ronde fa 1 t
d'egoTsllliJ et d'incomprehension,
o~ la votx des pauvres est loin
d'etre ontenuue, les pays du
T 1Jrs-l.\Jnde Jofvent d' al.Jord complar
sur leurs propr•os forces.
S1 avec ln Convunllon de UJ.f:
nous tendons una 111aln a des Peuples plus
nanUs qua nous, 11 111e semula que l'Jutr~
aaln dolt olre tendue a nos freres de
~arne condition. Je. veux dtre par Ia oue
no us do vons rechurchor 1 es vo 1 es e t 1 e s
~MJyens per11ettant d'tntens1f1or Ia
cooparat1on Sud-Sud et part1cu11eremunl
1a cooperation 1ntra AGP.
. A cot effet, je vous proposals
fl Y a 5 ans dans cetto mllma salle, ·Ia
crjatlon d'una Chambra de C Olltllerca ou de
tout autre structure pur~atlant d'actlver
Jes echangas antra nor. pays. Ja punsa
qu'1l est towps quu cetta fuaa devlenna
r~alltd. Car, c'est un formant antra
nous un bloc homoyhne que la coop~ratfon
Nor0 ~ud • A t -._) ' )raco no arnment au transfurt
de lochno loy1e I 1-JOUrra. oerUl» ttrP do
va lorfsBr daviinlage notre product I on.
lla Is ce transfert na so fora pas sans un
ACP/21/~fjgT/s~e nos Pays. . .. I .. .
- 8 -
Uous devons r~allsdr qu'll sera plus
quos llo11 do lu l tar pour s' accaparor
~u bosotn do ca qui pout nous paratlro
1naccasslule. En d'autros leritiOs, lus
pays du Tiors-tiomla do1vont plulot
aller au davant do la tochnoloyte 4ua
d'attomlru qu'olle vlanno u'ella-116~10
a aux.
C'sst la aussl un do01alno dans
lcquel los oxpor•luncas dos uns puuvont
servlr aux autres et las dfspontuflltas
des uns con!Jler los lacunas des autras.
Voila ~aux dtractlons duns
lasquelles nou'i devons oxercer notre
rsflexlon collectlve durnnt la nouvelle
p~rlode de coopEJrat1on qui s'ouvrn davant
nous pur la Signature de LOt{ Ill.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE IV)
1
I ' 1 I·
~ i 1:
'· ., I.
li
Hesdataes st l4ess leurs,
Le paradoxa dans 1 equo 1
nous evoluoos est i llustre de fa~on
pa len le par 1e ph9no1110ne de 1 a do tla
ex ter ieure de nos eta ts qu 1 nu dac~.:.mJt?n t
qu 1 uno jus to re~.mJra Uon do 1 ours ef for' ls
attn d'allti11orer leurs condlllo.ns de vlr
___ to_prenant en_aajns. leurs propres. des tIns.
~ts helas, 11 sont
traites comme des orphal t.ns et des
~alades auxquals l'on S9 pla~t ~
accorder des suus hies, en 1' a usance
de fa jus Uce ot lie l' aqurte dans
1' ordro qu t reg H 1 es achanges entre
les pays nant1s et les pays pnuvres.
ACP/21/025/84 ... I ...
- ~ -I
En etfet, co sont les
pays du tlord, d6 ton tours de 1 a
technologle qui flxont 1e cours
de nos •a t1 ~res prul brca A 1' acha t,
qut les transfor~ent at ~~ nous los
revendent aux cours qu'tla ftxent
unflaterale~ent, IUlttplfant parfots
par dtx, le prtx du .Oma produtt
qu' tla nous avatant achetb.
A. ce!.le allure, las
pays r1ches devlennent de plus
en p 1 us r lches at 1 es pays pauvres
de plus en plus pauvres, et ~ l'heure
actuelle, aucun futurologuo n'est
capai.Jlo do dfro quand cola prendra f1n.
-------- ·-
Pendant co temps, nous
constatons avec a~Jrtume que les
pays tndust.rtallses consacrent
d'enoriiiBs cap1taux fJOUr l'explor:ttfon
de l'espace, sans chorcl1er ~ connaTtre
·comment v1vent les autres hommes qui
sont sur la terre avec eux.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE IV)
A quot aarvtraft-11 ~
1' human ttd de conqu~r fr · .1 'us pace,
de ~~~attrlser toutes las technologies
et toulas los sciences qui par10ttent
de do~Jner le .ande at ce 10nda est
encore habl\e par 1'tnjust1ce, 1''golsme,
Je ~vrls de l'autre. Ja pauvret6, la
atsbre, la famtno. et l'tgnorance 7
Tout se pas3B a l'heure
ac tue lls co11:11e s I Ia torrs ava ft erie
un ordre se 1 on 1 cque 1 1 os pet ftas na t1 uns
devr~Jent §tre fatale•nnt detruftes par
les grandes~ alurs que la lot naturalle
qui r4g1t notre esp~ce huaatna let-bas
co~ande aux forts de proteyor los
falblea, aux nantls d'alder·las d'munls
at aux rlchoa d'aller au aocoura des
diah,r1 t••·
ACP/21/025/84
~- ....... ·-···--····'
10·-• !
... I ...
La IIOIIl\IO t as t vonu,
nous ae~le-l-ll, d'atllror
l~attenl1on des pays developpos
sur lcs dau~ers de cetta po11l1quo
dont 1' eflel est d' inbrroapro le
d1alogue Nord-Sud et do ramnttro
en cause las acqu\s du la cooperat\on
tn larna t lona 1 e.
Car, l vouloir pursislur
dans celte vo1e, ou l~s plus fatbles
sercint toujours affaiblis par Ia lo1
du profit at les plus forts toujours
plus pu1ssants, l'on aboutlra a une
rupture 1nevttaule.
L'arDJB du falbla (JUI n'a plus
aucun recours pour resister a l'oppresslun,
a l'axploHatlon de l'IJOJ:lllle pilr l'~omr.e et
a 1 I tnjustfca as t l.J\ Rl't\JLTE.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE IV)
Nous ne &ouna ILUIII tJP ""
arrlver a cella solutton extr&110 qul
d6ja, so profllo ll cortalnn hodtons.
11 fau:lra done quo les pays 1ndustr1a-
11s6s reexa11lnenl loUI'Il pos1llons et
reclnwchont uos soluttons plus ad6quatus
pour allegor lo po1ds do la dotlo. ext6-
ricure dos pays an dovaloppoaant qu1
sont, da.ns \a conJonclura nctuallo,
accu\6s el condamnea ll dos IIQ&ures
d1 !ust9r1 t6 1nco111pat1blos avoc lours
prograii!IIGS de d haloppemo nt •1nlA111.
En effet, harcales par los
problbas economlqJB$ 1111119d\a\!b nos
capacHes de prevlslon sont r&WHes ·
a neant. Ue co faH, notre avenir nr?
peu t qua nous pal' a Hra ~ombre. 11 1 e
paratt davantage lorsque nous avons a ~ 'asprlt, le surarlllloont des gramlos
puissances et leur volonte toujours
afflr~a de doter leur nation d'aulres
annes plus sopldsllquuas et plus
oourtrlores.
ACP/21/025/84 ... I . ..
- ll -• !
-· I
La vofx des trofs quarts
de 1' human Ita quo represen tent los
peuples du T1ers~.:onue, pout-o I I u
otl·e en tondue par caux-lll qu 1 font
peu cas ua la Yfo hu111alna, af1n qua
J a COllSC fence des holllllOS ep1•18 ue pa·!x na sol t pas conttnuol Jement
hantae par 1o spectra do Ia destruction
f lualo du 110ndo ?
En a tt and ant, 11 nous
rev font a nous., pouples du T1ors~.~onde,
de donnor 1' oxo01pla en prevenant tou los
las occasfons de conf11ts ariOOs entre
n~s Etats, on hI tant do nous rar·1or
derriere des systo.as qui pourrafent
nous en lralner dans des confll ts
ln tern a tlonaux.
C'est done au renonco~cnt
du r9gleal8nt de nos d1fteronds par
les ar1111S que je vous 1nv1te, afln
qua nos famenseo ressources ne solont
datournees de leur destination pre•1eru
pour aller enrlchlr las fabrlcants do
canons.
ACP-CEE/2256/84 (Presse 211) (ANNEXE IV)
. I
C'ast pourquof nos efforts v-12 -
dofvant tandra dans clraqua r~gfon ,~
renforcer 1'amft1e at 1o bon vofsl!lli1El
qui sont las re;~dos efffcaces contru
l'lnco11prehonsfon et la aefiance, sourcos
de d f ff a rands Bll lre J 88 hoRWa S.
Le Toyo pour sa part,
conscfent de toutes ces realites
s'osl assfgnd pou1• mtssfon de
sauvegaPdar a tout prfx, Ia palx
,
ot 1a s~curitd, aussf bfen ~ 1'1nt6rfeur
qu'a l'exterfeur. C1est a cotta seule
condf Uon qu'll croft pouvofr• assur·er a ·son peuple le mfnfrum de uorthaur qu' fJ
est en droJ t d'esperer. En ce jour d'u-lt-ie-
lnhrnatJonalo ·at du (:ooperatfon
agfssante, c'est un •ossaye de Palx
de Progrh, de Prospdrlte at de '
Sol fdarlte que J' adres.se aux Gouverna
ments at aux Peuples des Pays Europeans,
Afrfcalns, des Carafbas et du Pacifique
attn quo vivant l'amltla et la sollJarlto
ACP-CEE et Ia cooperation fnternatfonale.
ACP 17.1 /n? c; IRI!